A business plan is essential to every organization. It's a process that provides an opportunity to get everyone pointed in the same direction, each with a clear idea of their role & the focused priorities of the business. Business planning is essential for fairs as well as Service Members. This session addresses best practices for fairs, vendors, concessionaires & other fair-related businesses to develop business related plans that emphasize key factors for success. It's time to stop chronic business firefighting & apply the disciplined thinking required to analyze business conditions & strategically plan business development for immediate operations & for long-term growth & development of the business.

With animal rights organizations impeding our events, what does the future of animals at the fair look like? Learn what’s been attacked, the methods of pressure used by activists, and how to respond as we look at what’s worked at fairs across the country.

Hear lessons learned from the San Bernardino County shooting from featured speaker Felisa Cardona, Deputy Public Information Officer for San Bernardino County. This panel will also provide practical advice on creating crisis communication plans and tips on dealing with the media, the public, and employees during emergencies.

Affordable and easy-to-use, fair apps allow greater connection with your attendees than ever before. See a full app-building demonstration and receive all of the tools you’ll need to land your fair on guests’ home screens.

When your entertainment budget drops to $23,000, how creative can you get? Plumas Sierra County Fair Manager John Steffanic takes the "entertain ourselves" concept to a whole new level. He will share his "every 50 feet"guideline and how he keeps visitors entertained for peanuts. Learn how signage, imaginary attractions, humor and everyday activities make fairgoers feel like they are in a very special place.

Social Networks, especially Instagram & Snapchat have taken a turn for the similar - it seems like everything you can do on one you can do on the other. So when should you use Instagram and when should you use Snapchat? What are the differentiators that make it worth having both or should you just pick one? Join us to answer these questions and strategize on how to most efficiently put these Millennial and Generation Z-focused apps to work for you!

With the release of the State’s new temporary regulations guiding the commercial cannabis industry, there’s quite a bit to digest! Learn about the basics of legal cannabis consumption in California, legal requirements for cannabis events and steps your Fair should take to be prepared. From suggested Board policies to how to look up an event organizer license, we’ll cover the nuts and bolts of what you need to know going into 2018.

How do you offer reassurance to families that you are hosting a safe event? This session will provide visual and procedural aspects to help build safety confidence in your guests including insight on: Lost children reunification process & procedure; Safety/Security signage & presentation; Pre-employment screening; Event footprint design; and Deterrent vs. Reaction.

Fair directors are the cornerstone of the fair sector and in many cases, the board predates professional management. Fair directors have broad responsibility which can conflict with the professional staff, or complicate their roles. This session will examine best practices and provide take home examples of solutions that work!